(a) To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and
resilience;

(b) To facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant
new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes
and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate (decision
5/CP.17, paragraph 1).

Be based on and guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional and
indigenous knowledge, and by gender-sensitive approaches, with a view to integrating adaptation into
relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions, where appropriate;

Not be prescriptive, nor result in the duplication of efforts undertaken in-country, but
facilitate country-owned, country-driven action.

Initial guidelines

Initial guidelines for the formulation of NAPs were adopted at COP 17 and are contained in the
annex to decision
5/CP.17. The initial guidelines contain a list of indicative activities that can be undertaken in
the development of NAPs under the following four elements:

Information on the technical guidelines for the NAP process, which have been prepared by the Least
Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), can be found in the section on guidelines.

Modalities of support

The NAP process for LDC Parties will be supported through various modalities. Developing country
Parties which are not LDC Parties are invited to employ the modalities in the elaboration of their
own planning efforts.

COP 17 decided on the following modalities to support the NAP process:

The Adaptation Committee, in accordance with its agreed functions, is developing the relevant
modalities for supporting interested developing countries that are not LDC Parties to plan,
prioritize and implement their national adaptation planning measures, including through the use
of the modalities for the NAP process.

Financial support for the formulation of NAPs

A number of financial support channels will be available for the NAP process, including bilateral and
multilateral channels.

The COP has provided guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to enable activities for the
preparation of the NAP process by the LDC Parties through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).
It has also requested the GEF, through the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), to consider how to
enable activities for the preparation of the NAP process for interested developing country Parties
that are not LDC Parties.

In Paris in 2015, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) was requested to expedite support for the formulation
of NAPs and the implementation of programmes, projects and policies identified in the NAPs in
developing country Parties. Through the GCF Board decision B.13/09, paragraph (e), the GCF provides financial support for the
formulation of NAPs through its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.